Officials, business representatives and scholars attend a briefing on preparations for China's APEC host year in Beijing on April 27. Xinhua

Chinese officials and policy experts on April 27 outlined Beijing's priorities for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2026, saying the country would seek to advance regional economic integration, digital cooperation and sustainable development.

The briefing, held in Beijing under the theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together," brought together government officials, trade representatives and scholars to discuss preparations for China's APEC host year.

Among the speakers was Chen Xu, chair of the 2026 APEC Senior Officials' Meeting, who detailed the theme, priorities, planned outcomes and schedule for the year-long series of APEC meetings.

Chen said China's APEC presidency would focus on three priorities — openness, innovation and cooperation — and aim to deliver progress in areas including the proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), regional connectivity, the digital economy, and green and inclusive development.

He said China's role as host comes at a time of increasing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, adding that Beijing hopes to contribute to regional cooperation and economic growth across the Asia-Pacific.

Other participants included Wu Meng, director-general of the International Cooperation Department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT); Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC Study Center at Nankai University; and Zhang Jianping, deputy director of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.

The speakers discussed business-sector participation in APEC initiatives, prospects for deeper regional economic integration and expectations for China's host year. They also answered questions from journalists on the 2026 meeting agenda, expected policy outcomes and China's economic outlook.

The event was hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association and moderated by its vice president, Wang Donghua.

More than 70 Chinese and foreign journalists attended the briefing.